Welcome to EDIM502-PBL-Group C Wiki
Group Members
Melissa DowRichard Harstead
Gina McCarthy
Micah Moyer
Matthew Weiser
Project
How to Build a Better CatapultGrade Level(s)
7 - 8Project Summary
This project is focused around math, science, and technology. Students will gain an understanding of what makes a catapult the ‘best.’ Students will be shown an introductory video introducing catapults and the use of catapults. They will then work through an inquiry project where they are given designated supplies and asked to build a catapult that will launch an object the furthest. During this inquiry process they will work through the scientific method and fill in a worksheet explaining how they went about creating their catapult and what variables played a role in achieving their goal. After, our initial inquiry project a brief dialogue will be had with the class to discuss their findings and thoughts about what worked well and what they struggled with. At this point students will need to create a catapult with their group while keeping a personal design journal. Groups will test their catapult under differing circumstances to attain various goals. While testing, the students should record the distance of each launch for further statistical analysis to prove which type of launching device is best by comparing measures of central tendencies, range, quartiles, and linear regression. The first goal would be accuracy of the catapult (i.e. how close they can make it to a target) and the second goal being which catapult can launch the furthest distance. This will help students understand that the angle of launch will impact the distance traveled as well as the accuracy of the catapult. The project will culminate into a group demonstration for parents, teachers, and judges as well as a commercial on why their groups catapult is the ‘best.’
Project Links
Google Folder
Diigo Group
Scaffolding Activities